Amusement apparatus



T. R NOCK AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,780

Filed Oct. 10, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 2 lllillHllIillH J l i www?. 216C# ATTORNEY Jan. 12 1926. A 1,569,780 T. R. NocK AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10. 1924 5 Sheets-$11601'. 5

NVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS: Z

Jan. 12 1926, 1,569,780

T. R. NOCK o AIUSEMENT' APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10, 1924 5 sheatsshet 5 770mm P /Vock INVENTOR WITNESS: i g

Patented Jan. y 12, 1926.

THOMAS RFNOCKOF WACHPREAGUE, VIRGINIA.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Application filed October 1f), 1924i To all 'whom t may concern' y13e itknovvn that l, T'Hoems R. Noon, a

citizen `ci. the United States, residing at llachapreague, in thefcountyi ol Accomac. and `State o'tVrginia, have invented new and usefull lmpr'ovementsin Amusement Apparatuaeof which the following isa specification. Y 4

@ne z object' of. my present invention is .the provision ot an amusement apparatus calcui lated toexcitethe interest of and afford considerable amusement to children as Well as adults.

Anotherobjecti of the invention isto pro-4 vide a portable amusementapparatus char `acterizedas indicated and including means which makes it necessary for children or adults to traverse steps before they are able to view the amusement affording marine scene.

, Other objects and practical advantages oit' the invention will b e fully understood from the following description and claims, When the same `are read in connection With the dra fings, accompanying` and forming part of `this specification, in .Which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustratingthe preferred embodiment `which has been reduced to actual practice. 30

i apparatus.

Figure 2 is a rear end elevation ot the Fi,A ire 3 is an enlarged detail plan of the apparatus taken from a view point above the tank Which is also shown in Figure 4.

Figure e is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section illustrative of the tank and its zmpurtenances.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 4L Figure 6 is a vertical section of a smudger or smokesupplying device comprised in my improvement.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section of one the miniaturevessel simulating` devices comprised in my improvement.

Figure 8 is a` detail section illustrative of the smoke conduits for one vessel.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

l prefer to utilize an automobile truck 1 for the support and carriage of my improve ment, and so that the novel amusement apparatus may be conveniently transported Serial No. 742,888.

from one point to another. In general .the y automobile truck is of the ordinary Well known construction, but in accordance with" my 1nvent1onthe rear portion of the yautomobileibodyis formed 'by a casing`2 having side panels,` ya preferably removable front panel 3 and `backdoors 4', the said doorsll being designed -ito` afford access4 to a lockerl` space15 which istseparated by a partition `Wall 6 from` an enginecompartment7',t all asbestshown in IFigure 4.

Appropriatelyy supported above the engine compartment? is. a` circular tank 8, sur-` rounded `by a platform 9, Figures?) `and 4 and having adjacent to' three of Aits edges a hand rail 10, Figures 1, 2 and 3. The tank 8 is designed to receive and hold a liquid body `l1,thesaid bodyll being preferably of Water `and being preerablycolored blue toy simulate the color of sea Water and at the same timeitoA hidefrom view the mechanism in connection With" several miniature vessels 12 of Which eight are preferably employed as illustrated in Figure The several vessels 12 are identicalA in construction, and

therefore, an exact understanding ot' the several vessels Will be `understood 'from a specific description of the vessel shown in` Figure 7 which will be understood as simulating a gunboat havingrepresentations of the usual appurtenances of a gunboat such as ghting towers 13, smoke stacks 14 and l5, port-holes 16' in communication Witlra saloon chamber 17, turretslS and gun simulating tubes` 19 extending from the turrets smoke to the gun representing tubes 19 at` intervals so that when the apparatus is in oper-ation a miniature scene ot' marine Warfare will be displayed to those positioned to view the surface oi the Water in the'tank 8.

For enabling those Who are permitted to do so to vievv the scene alluded kto conveniently,gI provide in association with the truck and the casing 2, the side platforms 19c and end steps 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2 at the sides and back, respectively, of the casing 2, the said platforms and steps being preferably hinged at 2l to the truck frame so that the same can be swung upwardly clear of the ground as Whenfthe-appanatus and the platforms 19c having hinged and foldable legs 19".

For the purpose of preventing the smoke emanating from the smoke stacks 14: and the gun representing tubes 19 from interfering in any measure with the enjoyment ot those viewing the scene of marine warfare, I provide in spaced relation above the platform 9 and over the tank 10, the mouth of a smoke uptake 2l, the said smoke uptake 21 being flared downwardly as illustrated to promote the passage of air and products of combustion upwardly therethrough, and being supported by rods 22 which are connected to and rise from the points 23X of the platform 9. At the points 23* are sockets as shown in Figure El, and in the said sockets are disposed the lower ends of the rods 22, and the said rods 22 are permanently con nected to the uptake Q1 as shown in Figures l and 2, and consequently it will be understood that when it is desired for any purpose the uptake 2l and its rods 22 may be readily lifted as a unit oil the platform 9 and may as readily be replaced on the platform 9 with the lower flared portion of the uptake 21 spaced above the platform 9 for the entry of air into the lower portion of the uptake 21 and also to enable children and other persons standing on the uppermost steps of the flights Q0 to conveniently View the scene furnished by the movement of the vessels 12 in the body of water in tank S and also furnished by the emission of smoke from the several smoke stacks 'la and the several tubes 19 that represent guns as before mentioned. Then the uptake 2l is removed as before stated, a cover 8() such as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1 may be arranged over the tank 8.

Manifestly the side panels 3 of the casing 2 may be and preferably are provided with pictures such as shown in Figure 1 illustrative of the type of scene that is furnished by the operation of the apparatus. I would also have it understood that when deemed expedient the uptake 21 may be painted in diil'erent colors as red, white and blue so that the apparatus in addition to furnishing amusement may be employed for the stimulation of patriotism.

It is within the purview of my invention to employ any appropriate means for moving the vessels l2 in the body of water ll contained in the tank 8, and it is also within the purview of my invention to employ any suitable means for furnishing smoke or smudge to the smoke stacks l-lof the several vessels 12 as well as any suitable means for furnishing puffs ot smoke to the tubes 19 that represent guns or camions.

For the carriage and movement of the vessels l2, I prefer to employ the mechanism best shown in Figures Il, 7 and 8. By particular reference to Figure 7 it will be noted noticed that each vessel l2 is carried on and by a pipe 23 having its ends in communi :ation with the gun tubes i9 and also havingr lateral apertures 2li in conmiunieation with the chamber liroin this it 'follows that when a pull of smoke is sent through the pipe 223 puffs of smoke will be emitted by the tubes 19 and 19*j which puffs of smoke obviously will closely simulate the appearance of a piece of ordnance when the saine is fired. Reference to Figure 'T will also make clear that a pipe 2l; is connected to the smoke stack l of each vessel l2. Each pipe Qd is connected to a conduit Q5 of a rotor arm 2G of which there one for each vessel i2, and each pipe 2?) is connected to a pipe 2, Figui-cs ai, T and which is connected7 in turn, with. a conduit 2S carried by each rotor arm QG. The said conduits Q5 and E28 comprised in the eight arms el' the rotor may be arrangell as shown in Figure el, or as shown in Figure 8, it being` understood in this connection that Figure 8 illustrative of a slightly modilied forni of rotor. Foi instance, in the rotor shown in Figure d, the conduits 25 and 2S are in the form of spaced pipes and are connected at their inner ends to chambers 29 and 30, respectively, Figure el, while in Figure 8, the conduits 25 and 2b are arranged in one bod f and are connected at their inner ends to chambers 29 and 30, the latter chambers beingI formed by upright tubes. In the embodiment shown in Figure ll, the chambers 29 and 30 are fixed with respect to rotary tubes 29"' and 5550*, respectively, and it will be understood thatthe tube 29 of Figure tl as well as the tube 29 of Figure lis journaled in the bottom of "the tank d and that a stalling box bl such as shown in Figure l or any other approprizlte means is employed about the outer tube of the rotor with a view to precluding leakage ot' water or other liquid from the tank 8. also in the embodin'ient shown in Figure -l a miter gear 32 is fixed to the tube 29H and meshed with the said initer rear SQis a pinion 315 fixed 'ith respect lira spur gear il in mesh with a spur pinion $553 that is lined with i"fpect to a sprocket gear 36, connected by a sprocket belt 1:3?` with a sprocket gear ill-4 on a shaft of an internal combustion engine 39, the said internal eombustion engine being of any approved type and being.;` of internal combustion character in order to utilize the pro lucts ot combus tion that it gives in the production of smoke for the maintenance of the scene of warfare alluded to. At its lower end the outer up' right tube of the rotor in communication with the chamber 10, Figure Llv, and at its lower end the inner upright tube of the ll'ill i ersing the body of water 11.

rotor isin comnmnication` with `a chamber 41, theisaid chamber 41 being also connected to a conduit 42 that leadsfrom the exhaust port of the engine 39. Connected by a conduit 42 with the chamber' 40 is a smudger 48, `the said smudger having a chamber 44, Figure; 6, for the reception of the smudge 45 which may be oil soaked cotton or any other appropriate material. The smudger 43 also has air inlet openings 46 tor the promotion of combustion anda straining screen or diaphragm 47, and arranged in the smudger in the relation shown in Figure G is a `blower `fan 48that.` is designed to be driven from the engine 39 through the `driving connection 50 shown in Figure 5. By virtue of the construction just described it will be understood that incident to the operation of the apparatus, smoke will be discharged through the smoke stacks 14 of each vessel 12, while the vessel 12 is trav- It will also be understood that the products oit' combustion given ofi by the engine 39 will be supplied to and will be discharged from the gun tubes 19 and 19X of the vessels 12. In order to increase the density of the products of comw bustion furnished through the engine eX- haust pipe 42 to the gun tubes 19 and 19x of the vessels 12, I prefer to employ an oil cup 60, Figure 4, in connection with the interior of the said exhaust pipe 42. Maniiestly when oil is fed from the cup 6() into the pipe 42, the hot pipe by action on the oil ywill materially increase the density of smoke referred to.

At this point, I desire it understood that the blower 48 shown in Figure 6 may be ot any type compatible with the purpose of my invention.

The emission of smoke `in puits from the gun representing tubes 19 and 19X as before mentioned is preferably brought about by the pufng of the internal combustion engine 39, and .from this it will be understood that the products of combustion are also emitted from the smoke stacks 14 in puffs.

arranged in the chamber 17 ot each ves sel 12 is an incandescent electric lamp electrically connected as indicated by 70 in Figures 4 and 7 with a source of electric energy. This provision is made so that the light shown through the porthole 16 of the vessels 12- will give the vessels 12 more the appearance of warships at sea. When desired and with a View to elimina-ting nece. sary vibration, the several conduits 25 and 28 of the several vessels 12 may be carried in a rotary disk with the result that all of the conduits and 2S such as' shown in Figure 8 will be moved as a unit.

In the practical use of my improvement it will be understood. that children or adults will occpuy positions on the steps 2O and will view the scene in the tank 8 through,

the space panel, the platform 9 and `tbc lower end of the uptake`21, 'and when nec essary or desirable the spectatorsl maj," grasp the rod orhand rail 10. Manilestly by 'virtue of the provision shown in Figures 1 and 2 a number ot persons may view the interior of the tank 8 at one and the same time, and when thefrotor is actuated and smoke is supplied tothe stacks 14 and the guns 1S) and 19X, it will be apparent that the smoke emit-ted trom the several moving vessels 12 will give riseto a scene closely simulating a marine warfare scene. This obviously will excite the interest and accord considerable amusement to adults as well as children, and the similarity ot the mimic battle to a real battle will be further enhanced by the putting or puiiing ot the internal combustion engine employed.

Notwithstanding the practical advantages ascribed to my novel apparatus, it will be noted that the apparatus is simple and inexpensive in construction as well as compact, and that .it is free o delicate parts such as are likely to get out of order after a short period of use.

I have specically described the present and preferred embodiment of myinvention in order to impart a full, clear and exact understanding of the said embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as conning myself to the disclosed construction inasmuch as the scope of my invention is defined by my appended claims within which changes may be made without involving departure from my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is f 1. In an amusement apparatus, a boat simulation having a tube representing `a smoke stack and also having turret representations and tubes representing guns carried by and extending from said turret rep resentations and further having a chamber and broad side tubes representing kguns in communication with said chamber, the smoke stack tube being adapted to be connected with smoke supply means, and the turret representing guns being combined with pipes adapted to be connected with a source of smoke supply and` having openings in communication with said chamber for the passage of smoke to the tubes representing broad side guns.

2. An amusement apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain liquid, boat simulations movable in the tank and liquid and having smoke emitting means, an internal combustion engine connected with and adapted to move the boat simulations in the liquid, and means for conducting smoke from the exhaust of the engine to the smoke emitting means of the boat simulations.

3. An amusement apparatus comprising a having;` sinolia omitting moans, aninlii'nal minlmslion angina vonnoirtoil willi anni :wlaptwl lo move tlm ioai simulations in lilla liquid. and moans foi fronflnfrtingg Aaoolco li'oin lw minimal oi lie engin@ to lille smoke uniting moans olf l'lio boat sin'nilations; l'lio Haiil smoke omitting n'loans lioiila' in the il'oi'ni of jan i'cpivsonlfatiomai amok@ aliadas cai'i'iml by the lioal` siniulationa, unil meansl loisupplying amok@ lo said stacks.

In testimony whereof l alix my signature.

THOlvlaS li. NOCH. 

